Steam generator



K. A. M CURDY April 29, 1947.

STEAM GENERATOR Filed June 2'7, 1945 uuhduu;

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INVENTOR I fl w/v m/vm/m BY W ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1947 OFFICE:

STEAM GENERATOR Kenneth A. McCurdy, Hempstead, N. Y. Application June 27, 1945, Serial No. 601,865

4 Claims.

can be instantly generated and used in the engine of a vehicle or the like such as a steam car.

Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a steam generator in which the water carrying conduits are concentric to the heating chambers and in which the heating chambers completely encircle or surround the water-carrying conduits.

It is still another objectof the present invention to provide a steam generator in which the water-carrying conduits are annular in cross-section and in which the heating medium consisting of a combustible mixture of air and gas is carried concentrically to the water-carrying conduits to form heating chambers along both the inner peripheral walls as well as the outer pegipheral walls of the annular water-carrying conuits.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompany ing drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of the steam generator;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the steam generator;

Fig. 3 is an-enlarged fragmental detail of a portion of the generator partly in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig-s. 1 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the spacers.

In the embodiment shown, there are provided a plurality of concentric conduits, so spaced from one another to form in the present instance two water-carrying chambers I and 2, and three heating chambers, 3, 4 and 5, of which the heating chamber 3 consists of an annular air chamber 6 and an annular gas chamber 1; the heating chamber 4 consists of the annular gas chambers 8 and 9 and the intermediate annular air chamber I 0, and heating chamber 5 consists of the annular gas chamber II surrounding the cylindrical air chamber I2.

These several annular chambers I, 2, '6, I, 8, '9,

2 V II! and II are formed by the nine conduits or tubes I3, I4, I5, IS, IT, I8, I 9, 20 and 2| of varying diameter as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 and spaced from one another to form the annular chambers aforesaid and the central cylindrical chamber I2.

The spacing can be provided .by any one of suitable well known means such as the spacing rings 22 as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The conduits I5 and I 6 forming the annular water chamber I are imperforate. Similarly, the walls of the tubes I9 and 20 are imperforate to form the water chamber 2.

As clearly indicated in Fig. 3 however, the tube I4 is provided with a succession of openings 30 to afford communication between the annular air chamber 6 and the annular gas chamber 1; in turn, the tubes I1 and I8 are perforated or provided with openings to afiord communication between the air chamber I0 and the gas chambers 8 and 9; and in turn, the tube 2| is provided with a spiral opening 64 to afiord communication .between the air passage I2 formed. through it and the gas passage I I.

From the foregoing, it will thus appear that each of the annular water passages I and 2 will be completely surrounded or encircled by heating chambers.

The water, gas and air may be fed to the respective chambers in any one of several well known ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. As an instance, a water pump -3I, which is provided with a main pipe or tube 32 having branches 33 and 34 connected to the lower ends of the annular chambers I and 2 rer spectively, through the end or base plate 35 of the generating unit 36.

In turn, the discharge ends of the generator Water passages I and 2 may be connected to the steam chest or cylinder of the engine and in turn the heating chambers may be provided with an exhaust exit according to well known practice without departing from the general spirit of the invention. In the present instance, the annular chambers I and 2 are connected by the pipe 31 and 38, respectively, to the common pipe 39 connected in turn to a steam chest or engine cham ber 40. In turn, the several heating chambers 3, 4 and 5 may have a common outlet dome 41 provided with a common discharge outlet 42.

The gas, such as a gasoline vapor or the like, may be fed or supplied to the gas chambers I, 8, =9 and II by means of the gas main 43, having the branches 44, 45, 46 and 41 connected to the lower ends of the gas chambers I, 8, 9 and II re spectively.

In turn, the air chambers 6, I and I2 may have air upplied thereto by the air pump 48, having the main conduit 49 connected by the branch conduits 50, 5| and 52 to the lower ends of the air chambers 8, l0 and [2 respectively. Air is forced by air pump 48 into the air passages 6, I0 and 12 under a pressure greater than the pressure in gas passages l, 8, 9 and II. Therefore air will pass from the air passage into the gas passages where it forms a combustible mixture with the gas which mixture burns in the gas passages adjacent the water passages l and 2.

In actual practice, it is contemplated to select dimensions of tubing so that the diameter of the outer tube I3 will not exceed four inches, but the length of the generator from the end plate or base 35 to the dome M will approximate one hundred fifty feet, which generator will in turn be wound into a rectangular spiral suchas shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, the spirals starting at the lower end 53 and initially forming the inner portion 54 and then continuing at 55 into the intermediate rectangular spiral 56 and then continuing by the portion 5'! into the outer rectangular spiral 58 terminating at the end 59 as shown at the upper left-hand corner of Fig.2. When so arranged, it has been found that a generator one hundred fifty feet in length with itsouter tube [3 having a diameter not exceeding four inches can be packed into a space approximating four feet by four feet by four feet.

The ignition of the combustible mixture may be effected in any one of several well known ways. As an instance, an electrical ignition system including the spark plugs 60 may be located in the. lower ends of the gas conduits l, 8, 9 and H adjacent the end plate 35 .and electrically .connected to a source of current and any suitable control switch. Furthermore, excellent results may be achieved when the spacing rings 22 are secured at intervals of four feet from one another and staggered relative to one'another, as shown, when the generator does not exceed four inches in diameter and does not exceed one hundred fifty feet in length. While it is not here intended to be limited to any structural details, but merely by way of example, the spacingrings canbe secured in place on the outer peripheries ofzt he tubes "21, 20, l9, [8, ll, I6, Hi and I4 beforeth'esetubesare inserted into one another,

It is obvious various changesand modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a steam generator, the combination of a 4 duits between adjacent (gas and-air chambers having openings therein to' afford communication between the two in order to effect combustion.

2. Ina steam generator, the combination of a plurality of concentric tubes disposedwithin one another and spaced from one another to form a plurality of concentric chambers including a plurality of water-carrying chambers, a gas chamber along both the inner and outer wall of each water-carrying chamber, and an air-carrying chamber alongside of each gas chamber, the conduits between adjacent gas and air chambers having openings therein to afford communication between the two in order to efiect combustion, a gas supply, an air pump, a water supply, conduits connecting the gas supply with said gas chambers, conduits connecting the air pump with said air chambers and conduits connecting said water supply with said water-carrying chambers.

3. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of concentric tubes disposed within one another and spaced from one another to form a plurality of concentric chambers including a plurality of water-carrying chambers, a gas chamber along both the inner and outer wall of each water-carrying chamber, and an air-carrying chamber alongside of each gas chamber, the conduits between adjacent gas and air chambers having openings therein to afford communication between the two in order to effect combustion, a gas supply, an air pump, a water supply,conduits connecting the gas supply with said gas chambers, conduits connecting the air pump with said air chambers, conduits connecting said. water supply with said water-carrying chambers and a spark controlled electric ignition means connected to the entrance end of eachsgas chamber.

4. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of concentric tubes disposed within one another and spaced from one another to forma plurality of concentric chambers including aplurality of water-carrying chambers, a gasch'amher along both the inner and outer wallof .each water-carrying chamber, and an air-carrying chamberalongsideofeach gas chamber, the conduits between adjacent gas and air chambers having openings therein :to afford communication between the two in order to effect combustion, a

gas supply, an ,air pump, a water supply, conduits connecting the gas supply with said gas chambers, conduits connecting theair pump-with said air chambersconduits .connecting sa'id water supply with said water-carrying chambers, a spark controlled electric ignition means connected to the entrance end of each gas chamber, a steam chest,,conduits connecting the exit ends of said water-carrying tubes to said steam chest to transfer the steam bein generated from-said water- .carrying tubes to said steamnchests and an exhaust outlet connected to the outlet ends ofsa-id ,gas and airv chambersto allow the burned-gases to escape.

KENNETH A. MCCURDY.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 621,350 Klugh Mar. 21, 1899 365,000 vG'ilstrap June'11'4',.l'887 2,076,922 Simard Apr. '13, 19,37 

